Reciprocating compressors running together—Is that a problem?

A new maintenance engineer is assigned the
task of overseeing large, critical rotating equipment in a petrochemical facility (Fig.
1). In this example, the facility has vent-gas
compressors that, in general, run well, but sometimes fail.
This system has three compressors operating in parallel.
However, the associated piping is less than an optimum design,
and, unfortunately, it looks like an afterthought for both the
suction and discharge sections.

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